This is the 32nd in a 50-day summer series, counting down the top players in Michigan State basketball history, as I see them. The criteria is impact and performance at MSU only, professional career irrelevant. Have your own opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

No. 19 – Adreian Payne
Power forward / center, 2010-14, Dayton, Ohio

The Skinny: By the end of his career, the 6-foot-10, 245-pound Payne was the most versatile imposing big man ever to play at MSU. Once an enigmatic talent, Payne put it together midway through his junior season. As a senior, he averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and hit 44 3-pointers (at 42 percent) in 28 games.

Adreian Payne scored 41 points against Delaware in this year’s NCAA tournament, breaking an MSU postseason record previously held by Greg Kelser, with 34 points against Notre Dame in 1979. (LSJ file)

Payne’s ceiling was even higher. He dominated an oversized Texas club in December, scoring 33 points on 10 of 13 shooting, almost all of it guarded one-on-one work in the post. And, in the first game of the NCAA tournament, he set an MSU postseason record with 41 points against Delaware, owning the paint, while hitting 4 of 5 3-pointers and all 17 free throws. It was the most points by any MSU player in 20 years.

Twice selected second-team All-Big Ten, Payne finished with program-best career 141 blocks and is one of nine MSU players with more than 1,200 points and 700 rebounds.

Why he’s No. 19: Payne’s numbers are somewhat lessened by his era — not the modern era, the elite team era. For example, he scored four points at Indiana as a senior but played beautifully, not forcing his offense against extra attention and shutting down NBA projected lottery pick Noah Vonleh, while MSU’s other stars took care of the points. In many eras of MSU basketball, Payne would have averaged more than 20 points per game last season and been called upon for bigger stats earlier in his career.

Like many great post players, Payne could raise his game in big moments and against key matchups — especially bulky, low-to-the-ground bigs. As sophomore, his 15 points against All-American Jared Sullinger were instrumental in winning at Ohio State. A year later, he was MSU’s best player in the NCAA tournament, tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds against both Memphis and Duke.

But it’s his senior year — which nearly didn’t happen — that puts him on this list at all, even with a chunk of games missed to a foot injury. If Payne is selected in the first round of next week’s NBA draft, as expected, his program impact will have extra reach, giving MSU a boost in recruiting.

He came back to the IM to shoot some hoops in 78 I let him in the door without an id, he was wearing a tee shirt that said poor man wanna be rich rich man wanna be king and a king ain’t satisfied till he rules everything

About this blog

Graham Couch@Graham_CouchBorn and bred in Lansing, Graham Couch returned to his hometown in September to be the LSJ's sports columnist. He's covered Michigan State since January, after nearly a decade covering Western Michigan University and the Freeport (Ill.) Pretzels.